Criminal gangs at the helm: Punjab harbours no-go areas

Southern Punjab has become a den for criminals that have support of local sardars.

LAHORE: It has emerged that there are now several no-go areas in district Rahim Yar Khan. Police have been helpless against criminals who have sought refuge in these areas famously known as ‘kachcha’. They are equipped with sophisticated weapons including anti-aircraft guns, long-range machine guns, G-3s, rocket-launchers, land-mines and mortars, The Express Tribune has learnt. The boundaries of Sadiqabad tehsil in the district are linked to Rajanpur, Ghotki and Kashmore districts.

All these areas have come into the fold of criminal activities which are on the rise. (The map is approximate and not drawn to scale).

Police Station Shah Wali Area that sorrounds this is known as Kachcha Karachi. This precinct is located about 70 kilometres north of Sadiqabad in Rojhan tehsil, Rajanpur district.

The area is like an island and more prominent gangs include those of Choto Bhakhrani, Shobi Bhakharani, Badla Lathani and Ayub Lathani. Reports say 50 criminals from Sindh and Balochistan are in the area. Due to noncooperative locals and the geography of the area police have been unable to carry out conventional raids.

Police Station Machkha

Police Station Machkha is situated approximately 55 kilometres west of Sadiqbad, in Sadiqabad tehsil, Rahim Yar Khan district.

To get to this area the Punjab police at times has to go through Sindh as the routes within Punjab are inaccessible.

This precinct is close to the Indus River and its boundaries are linked with Kashmore and Ghotki districts. This area is famous for the old animosity between the Parkosh and Machi tribe; in which dozens of people have died. These criminals often take refuge in Sindh. It has been observed that in various cases the same incident has been registered at police stations in both Punjab and Sindh.

Kachcha Karachi

Dacoit Chachar, who later died, killed 17 people in a day after looting them and burning a village in 1987, belonged to this area

Anwar Batassi’s gang

They used women to lure victims to hold for ransom

Nine people were kidnapped in 2010 in this area by them

Arrested yesterday near Ghotki

Sadiqabad circle

Eleven wanted criminals were killed in six encounters in 2010

FIRs 2009 - 18 (Unreported cases 34) FIRs 2010 – 15 (Unreported cases 35)

Police Station Bangla Acha is approximately 50 kilometres north of Sadiqabad in Rojhan tehsil, Rajanpur district. River Indus lies to the west and north of the police station limits.

The Mazari, Imrani, Sikhani, Lathani, Dhanwani, Zamkani, Bala Chani and Chakhrani tribes reside in the limits of this police station. Their specific feudal system, unique culture and lifestyle leads to them helping each other in every matter. This is especially true when it comes to matters relating to people belonging to other areas.  These tribes obey their very influential sardars including Sardar Atif Khan Mazari, Farooq Khan Mazari, Sher Ali Khan Mazari, Saleem Jaan Mazari and Panu Khan Mazari.

Police Station Bhong is approximately 45 kilometres west of Sadiqabad in Sadiqabad tehsil. Rahim Yar Khan ditstrict.

The limits of this police station take off from Bachao (Munchan) Bund. Sometime back this was considered as a no-go area of Sadiqabad circle. Kachcha Karachi, Basti Imrani, Chak Dhanwani, Kachcha Shahwali and Chak Charaag Shah are the more prominent havens for criminals along the Indus River. Recently Rajanpur Police raided the house of notorious dacoit Put Imrani in Basti Dhanwani where the local people resisted and police had to retreat, leaving behind their APC.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.